Board tentatively approves select wage and reclassification requests, denies others

The July 17 work session included extensive personnel and classification discussion. The board tentatively approved a wage increase for Undersheriff Andrew Doezema after questions from Sheriff Mike Williams. Medical Examiner increases for Level One, Level Two and ABMDI Level Three investigators and per 12-hour shift pay were tentatively approved. Veterans' Services Transportation Specialist Karl Haney's requested increase from $19.99 to $21.00 was tentatively approved.

Several requests were denied or tabled: Animal Control wage increases for Officer Emma Mahin (from $21.72 to $21.97) and Kennel Attendant Rachel Redman (from $19.40 to $19.55) were tentatively denied, and the Animal Control reclassification to Lead (Emma Mahin) was tentatively denied. Prosecutor's Office reclassification requests for Office Assistants Makayla Brokaw and Leslie Whitney to Administrative Aides were tentatively denied. The Commission on Aging requests to convert a part-time Case Manager to full-time and to reclassify the Support Service Coordinator to Direct Services Coordinator were tentatively approved. Register of Deeds Kim Kuhn presented a request for a full-time Administrative Aide that the board tentatively approved; the Clerk—Vital Records request to convert a part-time Administrative Aide to full-time was tabled until the Clerk could attend.

What this means: personnel costs affect ongoing operating expenses; tentative approvals move items closer to final adoption but do not finalize county payroll changes until the budget is adopted.